What Colour is a Spill Kit & Which Kit to Use For Unknown Materials?

Spill kits are fantastic tools for managing hazardous spills in any environment. But have you ever noticed why they come in different colours, like red, yellow, and blue? Each colour serves a special purpose. In this guide, we’ll show how these colours help distinguish between the kits and learn how to handle unknown materials in uncertain situations.

What is a Spill Kit?

A spill kit contains multiple items that help you tackle hazardous substances right when they leak or spill onto surfaces. Acting as a first aid support, it is a lifesaver in many facilities where chemicals are regularly used. With a spill kit, you can keep your surroundings safe and sound, free from any potential danger.

Different Spill Kits’ Colours

Want to explore the spill kit colours and their roles? Below are the major types of kits you can use in your facility.

Blue for General-Purpose Spill Kits

First, let’s talk about the blue general-purpose kit. It’s a handy kit designed to help you deal with unknown and hazardous liquids. Inside, you’ll find various types of spill absorbents, including combos of oil-only and hazardous materials.

Yellow for Hydrocarbon Spill Kits

Secondly, the yellow coloured hydrocarbon spill kits that are perfect for oil-based spills. These kits can handle various liquids, including diesel, kerosene, gasoline, and flammable substances. For this reason, they are primarily utilised in industries that use liquid-based fuels.

Red for Chemical Spill Kits

As the name suggests, these red spill kits are designed to deal with chemicals. While they are safe for both users and the environment, using them with care is important to avoid any potential skin issues.

Components Colour

Each kit component features its own distinct colour, making it easy to identify which kit it belongs to. Here are the standard colours you can expect to find on the items included in the kit.

• Grey colour for the general-purpose absorbents
• White colours for oil-specific absorbents
• Yellow, green or pink for chemical absorbents

Handling Unknown Materials & Which Kit to Use

If you can’t identify the spilt material and have no idea which spill kit to use, don’t panic. You can tackle it with the general-purpose spill kit. Since it contains multiple universal absorbents, dealing with oil and hazardous materials is easier with these kits.

In such situations, you have to be more attentive and keep yourself safe so you don’t come into contact with the liquid. The best thing you can do in this critical scenario is to stop the source, which will prevent the further spread of the spill. Do this promptly before it starts contaminating the rest of the surfaces, and keep you and your co-workers in a safe zone.

If you forget to do this, don’t worry, follow this simple step guide:

1. Assess the level and nature of risk to ensure everyone’s safety.
2. Choose the right personal protective equipment to keep yourself safe.
3. Restrict the spill to prevent any further issues.
4. Stop the source to halt the situation.
5. Evaluate the incident thoroughly and proceed with the clean-up process.
6. Make sure to decontaminate the area effectively.
7. Finally, complete all required reports to document what happened.

Advantages of Spill Kit Colour Coding

As you’ve explored the different colours, here are some benefits of using them and how they improve employees’ productivity at work.

• Workers can easily identify which kit’s component to use for different scenarios.
• It helps you reduce the training hassle for new employees and prepare for uncertain situations.
• Quickly identify which colour socks to wear and which equipment to use according to the chemical type.
• Saves you gear wastage cost, as using the wrong one won’t accomplish anything at all.
• Your employees can act promptly in the meantime and don’t have to decide to pick the right one if they’re all coloured the same way.

Different Colours in Different Settings

All of the mentioned colours are part of the spill kits’ standardised colour coding systems. Businesses can have their own unique colour codes based on their specific rules and needs.

So, if you see any other colour, just think of it as a modified version specifically tailored for their facility. Also, keep in mind that colours of these kits can differ from one region to another. This is why it’s really helpful to be aware of your local requirements.

Get the Right Spill Kit for Your Space – Oil Spill Kit

All in all, we hope you understand the purpose of spill kit colours and can easily distinguish them to use when needed. Yet, if your facility doesn’t have a kit, you can explore Oil Spill Kit’s store and get your product delivered to you. We stock all necessary products from spill kits to refills and containers to cater to unforeseen spill incidents. You can directly consult with our experts to discuss your concerns at 08452571377/01543324016 or write to [email protected].